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2017 Boston Qualifier Acceptances Explained

The Boston Marathon should be one of the marathon all marathoners dream of racing and running. It is living history, and it is a positive sanctuary of our sport.

The competition for qualifying in Boston is intense. Here is the release from our friends at the BAA on the process and where the 2017 acceptances are at. If you have questions, reach out and do it with thoughtfullness and patience.

BOSTON - The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) today continued its notification to applicants of their acceptance into the 2017 Boston Marathon®. In preparation for the 2017 Boston Marathon, the B.A.A. implemented the same registration process for qualified runners as it used in the 2012 through 2016 Boston Marathons, allowing the fastest qualifiers to register first. The 121st Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 17, 2017 and will mark the 32nd consecutive year that the event will have John Hancock Financial as its principal sponsor.

In cooperation with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the eight cities and towns along the Boston Marathon route, the B.A.A. has set the field size for the 2017 Boston Marathon at 30,000 official entrants. More than 80% of the field ultimately will be comprised of athletes who have met the qualifying standards. The balance will consist of invitational entrants, many of whom run for local charitable organizations. Since 1989, more than $264 million has been raised for charity between the B.A.A.'s Official Charity Program and principal sponsor John Hancock Financial's Non-Profit Bib Program for the Boston Marathon.

Registration for runners who met the B.A.A.'s Qualifying Standards for the 2017 Boston Marathon began on Monday, September 12 at 10:00 a.m. ET using a "rolling admission" schedule and continued through Saturday, September 17 at 10:00 p.m. ET. Registration re-opened on Monday, September 19 at 10:00 a.m. and application submissions were received through Wednesday, September 21 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Registration was not first-come, first-served, but rather allowed for a more systematic and orderly application procedure with the fastest qualifiers of those who submitted entries accepted.

Qualifiers who were two minutes, nine seconds (2:09) or faster than the Qualifying time for their age group and gender were accepted into the 2017 Boston Marathon.

26,171 applications were received during the registration period for qualifiers.

23,214 Qualified applicants have been accepted to date or are in the process of being accepted, pending verification of their qualifying performance.

2,957 applicants were unable to be accepted due to the large number of eligible qualifiers who submitted an application for entry combined with field size limitations.

During the registration period, the breakdown of accepted Qualifiers was as follows:

4,357 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 20 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.

7,105 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 10 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.

6,845 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 05 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.

4,497 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 02 minutes, 09 seconds or faster.

410 Qualifiers were accepted based on finishing 10 or more consecutive Boston Marathons.

In October, the B.A.A. will accept qualifiers for its mobility impaired programs and wheelchair division.

Qualifying performances for the 2017 Boston Marathon must have been run between September 19, 2015 and September 21, 2016. Notices via e-mail to those accepted will be issued by the B.A.A. beginning today.

For reference, Qualifiers needed to be two minutes, 28 seconds or faster for their age group and gender for the 2016 Boston Marathon; one minute, 02 seconds or faster for the 2015 Boston Marathon; and one minute, 38 seconds or faster for the 2014 Boston Marathon.

"To qualify and ultimately participate in the Boston Marathon is the pinnacle moment for a vast number of runners," said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Executive Director. "The Boston Marathon represents the ultimate goal and highlight for many athletes from all across the globe. To inform those who have qualified that there is not enough space for everyone in the field is tremendously difficult. The entire B.A.A. organization has worked hard to ensure a fair registration procedure that gives runners who have qualified the best opportunity to enter the Boston Marathon. Working with many constituencies, an optimal field size has been determined to ensure the best race experience for runners, spectators, and the community. We thank runners for their understanding and support of the Boston Marathon year in and year out."

Notices to those who submitted an application for entry but who were not accepted were also issued today.

* Potential, qualified entrants for the 2017 Boston Marathon must have met the designated time standard that corresponds with their age group and gender in a certified marathon on or after September 19, 2015 and prior to having submitted an entry application. Proof of qualification must accompany each athlete's application, and participants are required to be 18 years or older on race day.

Qualifying performances achieved on or after Saturday, September 17, 2016 will be valid for 2018 Boston Marathon registration submissions. The registration dates for that year's race have not yet been established.

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.'s Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs, including high performance athletes and running club. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock Financial. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. More than 60,000 runners will participate in B.A.A. events in 2016. The 121st Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 17, 2017. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.